Slonik Vanos Hub Covers replacement

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by drwankel

ouch, that really sucks. At least you were able to catch it on the passenger side. If it was the drivers side you would never know...

Haha, true, not overly worried things will fall off but but a tad frustrating for sure. Hopefully gaskets and bolts/grommets can be reused.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Haha, true, not overly worried things will fall off but but a tad frustrating for sure. Hopefully gaskets and bolts/grommets can be reused.

Good catch, when installing mine the tolerance was so tight that I thought they had clipped in but I tripled-checked my work and a couple of the clips weren't.

I had to push really hard against the cover and pushed the clips pretty hard before they all clicked into place.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by DanMpower

I had to push really hard against the cover and pushed the clips pretty hard before they all clicked into place.

Which is what I asked the shop to make sure to do....tiring, for both partied I'm sure.

[Ajolives]

Originally Posted by DanMpower

Good catch, when installing mine the tolerance was so tight that I thought they had clipped in but I tripled-checked my work and a couple of the clips weren't.

I had to push really hard against the cover and pushed the clips pretty hard before they all clicked into place.

Same here, pulled a mirror next to each one of the tabs. Some of them did require a bit of force to get that snap.

Helmsman totally went out to double check mine after seeing your post, lol - all good from what I could see.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Ajolives

Same here, pulled a mirror next to each one of the tabs. Some of them did require a bit of force to get that snap.

Helmsman totally went out to double check mine after seeing your post, lol - all good from what I could see.

Mine looked so nice first couple of times I checked...till the "right" side was turned up...

Anyone have an idea whether resuing one month old gaskets and grommits should be ok? Guess will be up to the shop but don't want to mess about more than needed. After all he was one of few who accepted the job.

[Ajolives]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Mine looked so nice first couple of times I checked...till the "right" side was turned up...

Anyone have an idea whether resuing one month old gaskets and grommits should be ok? Guess will be up to the shop but don't want to mess about more than needed. After all he was one of few who accepted the job.

For what it's worth I used the same hardware and gaskets that were a couple months old and everything went together just fine. The torque on the bolts is so little I doubt they're unfit unless the mech wrenched on them like a jackass.

While on topic, I somehow ordered two bank 2 gaskets first go around in August and didn't find out til everything was apart. So I cleaned up and threw my 155k mile bank 1 gasket back on and it survived another two months til I put the Slon covers on.

[Redd]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Heads up guys;

Took a quick look today just to find one of the tabs doesn't appear snapped on. The shop claim they are certain all went on. Talking to a mate who did the job himself he says it is easy to believe they are fully on but needs to be double checked. The spring has to be forced all the way tight into the vanos plate to enable the cover to be fully seated.
So new round with the shop...

Glad you caught that early! I'll definitely pay extra attention.

[spammysammich]

I'm definitely going to take pictures for reference when I get around to doing this.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Heads up guys;

Took a quick look today just to find one of the tabs doesn't appear snapped on. The shop claim they are certain all went on. Talking to a mate who did the job himself he says it is easy to believe they are fully on but needs to be double checked. The spring has to be forced all the way tight into the vanos plate to enable the cover to be fully seated.
So new round with the shop...

This is going to be a pretty common issue as the forward plate component of the vanos does not extend equally around the diameter of the vanos adjuster. They're not aligned radially with the main body. They're offset to aid in balancing the coil spring, so clips are not going to seat well if they happen to require clipping to a ledge where the outer plate is flush with the main body. Every adjuster is a little different.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

This is going to be a pretty common issue as the forward plate component of the vanos does not extend equally around the diameter of the vanos adjuster. They're not aligned radially with the main body. They're offset to aid in balancing the coil spring, so clips are not going to seat well if they happen to require clipping to a ledge where the outer plate is flush with the main body. Every adjuster is a little different.

Dean, if I understand this right, would the potential issue be the same for the OEM caps/clips?

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Ajolives

For what it's worth I used the same hardware and gaskets that were a couple months old and everything went together just fine. The torque on the bolts is so little I doubt they're unfit unless the mech wrenched on them like a jackass.

While on topic, I somehow ordered two bank 2 gaskets first go around in August and didn't find out til everything was apart. So I cleaned up and threw my 155k mile bank 1 gasket back on and it survived another two months til I put the Slon covers on.

Good input, thanks Ajolives. Hopefully the tech used the 6nm only I asked him to.

Did you replace the plug tubes first round and reused as well? Assuming lubed properly prior seating they should survive...

Oh, and what about the timing metall gasket, new or reused?

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Good input, thanks Ajolives. Hopefully the tech used the 6nm only I asked him to.

Did you replace the plug tubes first round and reused as well? Assuming lubed properly prior seating they should survive...

Oh, and what about the timing metall gasket, new or reused?

I also reused my gaskets as they were a month old. I'll report back if they leak. I wasn't spending 240 bucks on those silly bolts, when really it's just the donuts that go bad after 100k miles.

I did replace the U gaskets on the vanos though, for 11 bucks each it's good peace of mind. The little blue gasket sealer on there is important to stop leaks.

[Move Over]

Also. For the guys installing themselves, I would highly I would highly recommend turning the motor by hand (36mm with a big 1/2 ratchet) as you are installing these. I had two areas where they weren't fully seated but it didn't know about it until the gear turned over.

I second guessed myself on the first two covers I clipped on and found one more section not fully seated. You can remove the little half moon vanos cover to check things out without removing the whole valve cover. Pic for reference

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Heads up guys;

Took a quick look today just to find one of the tabs doesn't appear snapped on. The shop claim they are certain all went on. Talking to a mate who did the job himself he says it is easy to believe they are fully on but needs to be double checked. The spring has to be forced all the way tight into the vanos plate to enable the cover to be fully seated.
So new round with the shop...

motor should have been spun over with the valve covers off to verify they are fully seated. These things may look thin and flimsy but they are a b**** to snap on.

[Ajolives]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Good input, thanks Ajolives. Hopefully the tech used the 6nm only I asked him to.

Did you replace the plug tubes first round and reused as well? Assuming lubed properly prior seating they should survive...

Oh, and what about the timing metall gasket, new or reused?

Yeah new tubes the first time around and reused them with a dab of lube.

I also replaced the metal gasket like Move Over did, kind of like a crush gasket and didn't wanna chance it leaking.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Move Over

Also. For the guys installing themselves, I would highly I would highly recommend turning the motor by hand (36mm with a big 1/2 ratchet) as you are installing these. I had two areas where they weren't fully seated but it didn't know about it until the gear turned over.

I second guessed myself on the first two covers I clipped on and found one more section not fully seated. You can remove the little half moon vanos cover to check things out without removing the whole valve cover. Pic for reference

Very interesting. Is this your picture, you took the timing cover off?

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Very interesting. Is this your picture, you took the timing cover off?

Yes this is my photo. I took the timing cover off after I found an unclipped one on the passenger side while spinning the motor (the idea came to me after I had finished the driver side). So I pulled off that cover and found one that was unclipped

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Move Over

Yes this is my photo. I took the timing cover off after I found an unclipped one on the passenger side while spinning the motor (the idea came to me after I had finished the driver side). So I pulled off that cover and found one that was unclipped

Many thanks, would make nego with the shop much easier. Saw this photo on FB, you're the same, Alex?

Also good input on new timing gasket (+ Ajolives), got it.

And it wasn't an issue to get the timing cover to seal back on top gasket (incl drei bond)?

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Many thanks, would make nego with the shop much easier. Saw this photo on FB, you're the same, Alex?

Also good input on new timing gasket (+ Ajolives), got it.

And it wasn't an issue to get the timing cover to seal back on top gasket (incl drei bond)?

I don't use drei bond anymore. It was a source of leaks on my last car and I've not had leaking issues without it on my new covers.

And yes I'm the same Alex on IG/Facebook.

Let me reiterate though, the vanos caps cannot be changed without removing the valve covers. I only removed the lower drivers vanos cover after I spun the motor on the passenger side to find 2 clips not fully seated. After I pulled that lower cover off I found one clip not fully seated on the driver side, so I'm glad I did. But yes, your shop should not have to pull the valve covers to check.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Move Over

I don't use drei bond anymore. It was a source of leaks on my last car and I've not had leaking issues without it on my new covers.

And yes I'm the same Alex on IG/Facebook.

Let me reiterate though, the vanos caps cannot be changed without removing the valve covers. I only removed the lower drivers vanos cover after I spun the motor on the passenger side to find 2 clips not fully seated. After I pulled that lower cover off I found one clip not fully seated on the driver side, so I'm glad I did. But yes, your shop should not have to pull the valve covers to check.

Ah, now I see your IG sign below. Thanks again Alex, potentially very valuable information!

Cheers
Nik

[DirtyM3]

Just placed an order on mine. Wished I've known about this earlier to get them cheaper.

[Beemer892]

As a reference on delivery time for anyone in the US placing orders, my shipment was released from Russia on December 4th and made it to US soil on December 23rd.